White men now fill majority of new S&P 500 board seats for first time since 2017

White men secured 55% of new S&P 500 board seats this year, marking the first majority since 2017.

Boards prioritize CEO experience amid economic turmoil, but most available executives come from less diverse leadership eras.

Trump administration’s anti-DEI stance has reduced shareholder criticism for such appointments, recruiters and directors say.

Corporate boards in the U.S. have never been more diverse. Those same boards are now hiring white guys at the fastest clip in almost a decade.

White men made up a majority of new directors added this year at S&P 500 companies for the first time since 2017, according to data from the research firm ISS-Corporate. Interviews with directors and recruiters make clear that boards are seeking candidates with experience as chief executive officers t